Magician in a box David Blaine was faced with his most dramatic incident yet yesterday - when a man allegedly tried to cut off his water supply.

Magician in a box David Blaine was faced with his most dramatic incident yet yesterday - when a man allegedly tried to cut off his water supply.

The illusionist was woken just before 5am after the man scaled a scaffold support tower connected to his cage and tried to cut through the pipe that has been supplying water to the 30-year-old during his 44-day starvation stunt.

Police arrested the man but are yet to trace two accomplices, who are thought to have diverted the American's security guards. A 38-year-old man was last night charged with criminal damage and an offence of threatening behaviour.

Police, ambulances and fire engines were called to the scene by the Thames in central London.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "We were called at 4.45am to a man who had climbed on to the water tower near Blaine's box. He came down of his own accord at 5.18am."

The incident comes after the New Yorker faced eggs, golf balls and insults from passers-by.